What the Edwardians did for Brighton and Hove

The single decade after Queen Victoria’s six-decade reign acquired its own name and is seen as something of a golden age. But was it? In Brighton and Hove house building reached an all-time peak and the first council houses were built, tramways reached into new suburbs, the electricity supply spread, the old-age pension was introduced and the thriving theatre scene was augmented by the first cinemas. Liberal ideas about welfare and women’s suffrage began to gain ground. Yet the shame of slums, poverty and disease remained, despite increasing efforts to overcome them.

David Fisher is the current chair of the Regency Society. He is editor of the brightonhistory.org.uk website. Image: RS James Gray Collection